“Yours truly,
“CHARLES DYKE BASSETT.”
Mr. Hardwicke chafed under this; but Prudence stepped in. He was one of the county members, and Sir Charles could command three hundred votes.
He wrote back to say he had received Sir Charles's letter with pain, but, of course, he could not disbelieve him, and therefore he should invite Mr. Bassett no more till the matter was cleared.
But Mr. Hardwicke, thus brought to book, was nettled at his own meanness; so he sent Sir Charles's letter to Mr. Richard Bassett.
Bassett foamed with rage, and wrote a long letter, raving with insults, to Sir Charles.
He was in the act of directing it when Wheeler called on him. Bassett showed him Sir Charles's letter. Wheeler read it.
“Now read what I say to him in reply.”
Wheeler read Bassett's letter, threw it into the fire, and kept it there with the poker.
“Lucky I called,” said he, dryly. “Saved you a thousand pounds or so. You must not write a letter without me.”